I think for this topic I'll write about one thing I love: music. From a very early age I was surrounded by music. My parents had a massive record collection and I remember seeing things like trippy Grateful Dead record sleeves. I'm somewhat of a musician myself, having played the drums for a few years. I wonder why I didn't start earlier, because I feel like it's something I was always meant to do.
Some of my favorite musicians right now include: Animal Collective, The Antlers, Arcade Fire, The Flaming Lips, The xx, Grizzly Bear, Ratatat, Kid Cudi, MGMT, Led Zeppelin, Blue Man Group, Beach House, Fleet Foxes, and the list could go on ad nauseum. I have about 10,000 songs on my iPod. When you click 'Shuffle,' you could be listening to "Fantasy" by Mariah Carey one minute, then "The Number of the Beast" by Iron Maiden the next, then "Got Yo Money" by Ol' Dirty Bastard the next, then "Girls" by Animal Collective the next. It's not like I'm going for representing every genre on my iPod; everything on there is music I like listening to and have no shame about listening to it.
If someone told me I couldn't listen to music for the rest of my life, I'd punch them in the face. Music has always meant a lot to me and still does.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
#4 What did you see?
On my way home from school this evening, I'm sure I saw a lot of things. Nothing really struck me as being very notable, but that's probably because I enter into a zombie-like trance when I'm driving. Driving down 123 into Vienna I'm sure I saw a countless number of banks, maybe a few large grocery stores. I did see the Oakton Public Library and remembered I have to return a book on Tuesday; crap, I am nowhere near finishing it.
#3 Types of Writing in Your Field
There's a few different kinds of writing required for my major and for my career. The first that comes to mind is the kind of writing would be in one the engineering journals/publications, like IEEE's. This kind of writing is very matter-of-fact and straight-forward. No extraneous information is provided if not needed. This kind of article usually details the efforts a group of people made toward achieving a goal and then documents their results. A lot of these are produced from academia.
Another kind might be popular articles found in something like IEEE Spectrum, which is IEEE's magazine. This kind of writing may be done by journalists or by engineers with strong writing skills, and may be speculative in nature. An example would be: http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/biomedical/bionics/enhanced-imagination-drives-braincomputer-interface.
A third kind of writing would be documenting results of a design project for a client. A lot of points may be bulleted for brevity.
Another kind might be popular articles found in something like IEEE Spectrum, which is IEEE's magazine. This kind of writing may be done by journalists or by engineers with strong writing skills, and may be speculative in nature. An example would be: http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/biomedical/bionics/enhanced-imagination-drives-braincomputer-interface.
A third kind of writing would be documenting results of a design project for a client. A lot of points may be bulleted for brevity.
#2 What are your strengths?
I think I will bring a few unique strengths to the metaphorical table that is the professional world. First, I'm good with numbers on a freakish level. And I'm not just talking about being good at math; I already know your cell phone number. That's what I'm saying.
Second, I can communicate well. You might have gained that I am not a shy person, maybe through my writing style. I consider myself a fairly sociable person, and I think I'm pretty keen to the emotions of others. I can usually detect when someone is hesitant about something, or enthused with something, or whatever else have you. I think this skill will serve me well in the engineering world, where much of the working force sometimes lacks the ability to have a social interaction with others or read the expressions of others (sorry, fellow engineers, but this is the general opinion of our kind).
In my current workplace, I have a work-appropriate sense of humor, and I think people respond positively to it. I think a fun work atmosphere is the one most conducive to getting real, quality work done. I also think it helps people work together better than in an environment that is uptight and just generally wack.
Second, I can communicate well. You might have gained that I am not a shy person, maybe through my writing style. I consider myself a fairly sociable person, and I think I'm pretty keen to the emotions of others. I can usually detect when someone is hesitant about something, or enthused with something, or whatever else have you. I think this skill will serve me well in the engineering world, where much of the working force sometimes lacks the ability to have a social interaction with others or read the expressions of others (sorry, fellow engineers, but this is the general opinion of our kind).
In my current workplace, I have a work-appropriate sense of humor, and I think people respond positively to it. I think a fun work atmosphere is the one most conducive to getting real, quality work done. I also think it helps people work together better than in an environment that is uptight and just generally wack.
#1 Researching/Writing Goals and Aspirations
This semester, I'd like to hone my skills in researching and writing and use these new-and-improved skills to my advantage in the professional setting. I've learned this semester that writing as if you were trying to draft a story for a novel is something entirely different from professional writing for, say, a scholarly article that will be under review by your peers. I feel pretty comfortable writing in the former style, but I have a lot of room to improve in the latter writing style.
A very large part of engineering work is documentation: recording anything and everything, marking down any obscure little detail and whatever else have you. In this way, if a client or a boss comes back to you and asks you about some mistake here or there, you can reference your notes or state that the mistake was properly recorded. I know that in my professional career as an engineer I will have to carefully document every bit of progress that is made, so I really want to improve my skills in this area. And like I stated before, this kind of writing is entirely different than writing a story about how, for example, two brothers find a pot of gold in an abandoned cabin in the woods and go to Las Vegas with it and use the actual gold pieces, not cash, for all of their purchases. For example.
I expect that as we progress further in this course, my writing skills will improve markedly. In the typical engineering curriculum I don't get to write that much, or use that side of my brain at all, so I enjoy the opportunity to write.
A very large part of engineering work is documentation: recording anything and everything, marking down any obscure little detail and whatever else have you. In this way, if a client or a boss comes back to you and asks you about some mistake here or there, you can reference your notes or state that the mistake was properly recorded. I know that in my professional career as an engineer I will have to carefully document every bit of progress that is made, so I really want to improve my skills in this area. And like I stated before, this kind of writing is entirely different than writing a story about how, for example, two brothers find a pot of gold in an abandoned cabin in the woods and go to Las Vegas with it and use the actual gold pieces, not cash, for all of their purchases. For example.
I expect that as we progress further in this course, my writing skills will improve markedly. In the typical engineering curriculum I don't get to write that much, or use that side of my brain at all, so I enjoy the opportunity to write.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
#6 Open Topic
So, for this freewrite I am allowed to write about ANY topic. LOST, I choose you.
LOST (that's how it's written) is not a TV show. It's more like watching a movie on TV. LOST is great because it demands the attention of the viewer. If watching some robot guy give a rose to women who are dead on the inside every week is your cup of tea, you probably won't like LOST (sorry).
LOST is about a group of strangers who were on board a flight that took off from Sydney, bound for LA, and that crashed somewhere in the South Pacific. At first, they were strangers, but they had to figure out how to survive. Oh, and the island they're on is supernatural/scary/alive/mystical. There's a smoke monster that thrashes people around because it doesn't like you. There's also indigenous people that have been on the island for thousands of years. The island can't be found by normal means -- one character even goes so far to say that "not even God can see this island." In subsequent seasons since that line was delivered, we came to learn that the reason why the island can't be found is because it's constantly moving in space -- and time. I know, dude.
A research group called the Dharma Initiative came to the island sometime in the 1970s to conduct experiments and to exploit the unique scientific properties the island has to offer. Sometime in the early 90s, this group was wiped out by the indigenous "Others" in an event called "The Purge."
Those are the most memorable events from LOST. I know it seems that I am unhealthily obsessed, but it's not true. I just respect the creativity of the writers, directors, actors, etc. LOST stands out in a landscape of mindless television. You should give it a try sometime.
LOST (that's how it's written) is not a TV show. It's more like watching a movie on TV. LOST is great because it demands the attention of the viewer. If watching some robot guy give a rose to women who are dead on the inside every week is your cup of tea, you probably won't like LOST (sorry).
LOST is about a group of strangers who were on board a flight that took off from Sydney, bound for LA, and that crashed somewhere in the South Pacific. At first, they were strangers, but they had to figure out how to survive. Oh, and the island they're on is supernatural/scary/alive/mystical. There's a smoke monster that thrashes people around because it doesn't like you. There's also indigenous people that have been on the island for thousands of years. The island can't be found by normal means -- one character even goes so far to say that "not even God can see this island." In subsequent seasons since that line was delivered, we came to learn that the reason why the island can't be found is because it's constantly moving in space -- and time. I know, dude.
A research group called the Dharma Initiative came to the island sometime in the 1970s to conduct experiments and to exploit the unique scientific properties the island has to offer. Sometime in the early 90s, this group was wiped out by the indigenous "Others" in an event called "The Purge."
Those are the most memorable events from LOST. I know it seems that I am unhealthily obsessed, but it's not true. I just respect the creativity of the writers, directors, actors, etc. LOST stands out in a landscape of mindless television. You should give it a try sometime.
#5 Learning Styles
Taking this 24-question survey about Learning Styles was very engaging. I hadn't ever thought if I liked working on gardening, but I think I would.
It turns out that above all else, I am a musical learner (94%). I'm surprised it won out over interpersonal learner (88%) and logical-mathematical learner (88%), the two learning methods I thought best describe me.
According to this survey, a musical learner's mantra is "That sounds good to me!" That does very much describe me -- almost everything sounds good to me! …except country music…except Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline and a few others. Other than them, blah.
The interpersonal learner's mantra is "I understand what you mean." I'd like to think I am a good listener, and that I am keen on others' emotions and feelings. I think I read body language and speech tones well. I suppose I'm highly social -- I like meeting new people, learning about their experiences and the like. The survey suggests I might do well in a career involving sales; I've thought a little bit about going into technical/engineering sales. I think I'd do well at describing a product technically and enticing a client as to why purchasing said product would be advantageous to them.
Lastly, and my personal favorite, the survey claims I am a strong logical-mathematical learner, whose mantra is "Why? Well, because it's logical." I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a robot without emotion, but I guess I do make decisions based in reason and logic (Have you ever seen Forbidden Planet?). I'd like to imagine that I think about decisions and that I rarely act impulsively (excluding that time last Friday when I bought a round of Jager-bombs for a group of friends; that was impulsive and illogical).
Even though this survey is only 24 questions and took less than 5 minutes, I think it revealed a great deal of information about my learning style. It strangely described my learning styles quite accurately.
It turns out that above all else, I am a musical learner (94%). I'm surprised it won out over interpersonal learner (88%) and logical-mathematical learner (88%), the two learning methods I thought best describe me.
According to this survey, a musical learner's mantra is "That sounds good to me!" That does very much describe me -- almost everything sounds good to me! …except country music…except Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline and a few others. Other than them, blah.
The interpersonal learner's mantra is "I understand what you mean." I'd like to think I am a good listener, and that I am keen on others' emotions and feelings. I think I read body language and speech tones well. I suppose I'm highly social -- I like meeting new people, learning about their experiences and the like. The survey suggests I might do well in a career involving sales; I've thought a little bit about going into technical/engineering sales. I think I'd do well at describing a product technically and enticing a client as to why purchasing said product would be advantageous to them.
Lastly, and my personal favorite, the survey claims I am a strong logical-mathematical learner, whose mantra is "Why? Well, because it's logical." I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a robot without emotion, but I guess I do make decisions based in reason and logic (Have you ever seen Forbidden Planet?). I'd like to imagine that I think about decisions and that I rarely act impulsively (excluding that time last Friday when I bought a round of Jager-bombs for a group of friends; that was impulsive and illogical).
Even though this survey is only 24 questions and took less than 5 minutes, I think it revealed a great deal of information about my learning style. It strangely described my learning styles quite accurately.
#4 Refine Your Research Topic/Question/Problem
I'd like to address some of the questions posed in a blog post from January 31, specifically those associated with improving the measurement of T1. T1 is a type of contrast method used in MRI. Past research efforts have confirmed that an optimal set of repetition time and flip angles will produce an accurate measurement of T1. Here are some questions I posed regarding accurately measuring T1:
How do we accurately simulate an MRI scan?
Well, we have to think about the conditions under which an MRI signal is acquired. MRI signals are notoriously susceptible to noise, or random disturbances that inhibits the signal from being acquired cleanly. I think the best way to simulate an MRI scan is to consider the worst-case scenario, addressed next...
What is the typical quality of signal for an MRI scan (signal to noise ratio)?
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be as low as 10-20 and as high as 100-200, and sometimes even higher depending on the sophistication of the machine.
Is there an upper limit to how well T1 measurement can be improved?
Yes. The errors associated with measuring T1 are largely due to behavior of particles at the atomic level which are obviously outside of our control.
Why is it important to have an accurate scale of measurable T1 values?
The idea with improving the method by which T1 is measured is for a doctor/clinician to be able to tell a patient with Multiple Scleroses, "Your lesion has progressed to (this point). It has not yet reached the severity of (this kind of lesion)." Right now, the state of the art permits doctors to tell these patients that they do have a lesion, but they can't comment on its progression with any great degree of certainty.
How do we make a good compromise between an accurate scan and scan time?
Without getting too technical, the quality of a scan is directly related to the amount of 'points' that we sample. A 2-point scan will take around 19-30 minutes to complete, a 3-point about 45 minutes, and so on. Bear in mind that a patient in an MRI machine is required to stay perfectly still throughout the time of the scan. Hospitals and clinics also want a high patient/time ratio, which increases profits for them.
How do we accurately simulate an MRI scan?
Well, we have to think about the conditions under which an MRI signal is acquired. MRI signals are notoriously susceptible to noise, or random disturbances that inhibits the signal from being acquired cleanly. I think the best way to simulate an MRI scan is to consider the worst-case scenario, addressed next...
What is the typical quality of signal for an MRI scan (signal to noise ratio)?
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be as low as 10-20 and as high as 100-200, and sometimes even higher depending on the sophistication of the machine.
Is there an upper limit to how well T1 measurement can be improved?
Yes. The errors associated with measuring T1 are largely due to behavior of particles at the atomic level which are obviously outside of our control.
Why is it important to have an accurate scale of measurable T1 values?
The idea with improving the method by which T1 is measured is for a doctor/clinician to be able to tell a patient with Multiple Scleroses, "Your lesion has progressed to (this point). It has not yet reached the severity of (this kind of lesion)." Right now, the state of the art permits doctors to tell these patients that they do have a lesion, but they can't comment on its progression with any great degree of certainty.
How do we make a good compromise between an accurate scan and scan time?
Without getting too technical, the quality of a scan is directly related to the amount of 'points' that we sample. A 2-point scan will take around 19-30 minutes to complete, a 3-point about 45 minutes, and so on. Bear in mind that a patient in an MRI machine is required to stay perfectly still throughout the time of the scan. Hospitals and clinics also want a high patient/time ratio, which increases profits for them.
#3 Survey of Current Topics in Your Field
• Operating Systems
⁃ The newest incarnations of the widely used operating systems (namely, Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard) are both what are called 64-bit operating systems. Their predecessors, Windows Vista and Leopard, were both 32-bit operating systems, and before them, 16-bit operating systems. A 64 bit-operating system, simply put, makes much better usage of available memory, and thus allows for faster operation while running multiple applications. As move forward in this field of computer engineering/science, some questions arise: How do we take full advantage of a 64-bit operating system? How far are we from developing a stable 128-bit operating system?
• Control Systems
⁃ Control Systems are in place in virtually ever facet of our lives. An example of a control system would be the temperature-management system present in a conventional oven: there is a system in place to monitor the current temperature. If the current temperature is too low, the temperature needs to be raised, and vice-versa. Once the desired temperature is reached, the temperature needs to be regulated with a control system to keep it at that desired temperature. As technology improves and becomes an integral part of our lives, how can we make full use of control systems? A control system could be developed to drive a car autonomously, or to control a wheelchair with voice for those unable to use their limbs.
• Engineering Ethics
⁃ An issue which we talked about (ad nauseum) in my Engineering Seminar class last semester was Engineering Ethics. There is a code to which all engineers must adhere called the IEEE Code of Ethics. In it we state that our primarily responsibility is to the welfare and safety of the public. Often times in engineering we are presented with the ability to improve the quality of life of mankind, but in doing so we may have to do something unethical. An example that comes to my mind is probably the same one you're thinking of -- Stem Cell Research. Developing our skills in this field could vastly and dramatically change the way medicine is practiced -- but is it ethical? That is a debate that is currently at the forefront of engineering ethics.
• Crazy Powerful Magnets
⁃ Earth's magnetic core exerts a magnetic field with a magnitude of about 50 microtesla, which, as magnetic fields go, is very weak. A new magnet being developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, once completed, will reach 100 Tesla, which is about 2 million times as strong as Earth's field. Why would you want to develop a magnet of that strength? The answer is that this magnet -- with its incredible ability to generate a massive magnetic field -- will be able to test the properties of new semiconducting materials like iron-oxyaresenide, which can improve the method by which current clinical MRI machines are built, lowering costs and improving efficiency. At about $3 million, MRI machines aren't typically deployed in developing countries' clinics. Lowering costs associated with the machine could potentially bring the developing world up to speed in terms of medical diagnoses.
⁃ The newest incarnations of the widely used operating systems (namely, Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard) are both what are called 64-bit operating systems. Their predecessors, Windows Vista and Leopard, were both 32-bit operating systems, and before them, 16-bit operating systems. A 64 bit-operating system, simply put, makes much better usage of available memory, and thus allows for faster operation while running multiple applications. As move forward in this field of computer engineering/science, some questions arise: How do we take full advantage of a 64-bit operating system? How far are we from developing a stable 128-bit operating system?
• Control Systems
⁃ Control Systems are in place in virtually ever facet of our lives. An example of a control system would be the temperature-management system present in a conventional oven: there is a system in place to monitor the current temperature. If the current temperature is too low, the temperature needs to be raised, and vice-versa. Once the desired temperature is reached, the temperature needs to be regulated with a control system to keep it at that desired temperature. As technology improves and becomes an integral part of our lives, how can we make full use of control systems? A control system could be developed to drive a car autonomously, or to control a wheelchair with voice for those unable to use their limbs.
• Engineering Ethics
⁃ An issue which we talked about (ad nauseum) in my Engineering Seminar class last semester was Engineering Ethics. There is a code to which all engineers must adhere called the IEEE Code of Ethics. In it we state that our primarily responsibility is to the welfare and safety of the public. Often times in engineering we are presented with the ability to improve the quality of life of mankind, but in doing so we may have to do something unethical. An example that comes to my mind is probably the same one you're thinking of -- Stem Cell Research. Developing our skills in this field could vastly and dramatically change the way medicine is practiced -- but is it ethical? That is a debate that is currently at the forefront of engineering ethics.
• Crazy Powerful Magnets
⁃ Earth's magnetic core exerts a magnetic field with a magnitude of about 50 microtesla, which, as magnetic fields go, is very weak. A new magnet being developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, once completed, will reach 100 Tesla, which is about 2 million times as strong as Earth's field. Why would you want to develop a magnet of that strength? The answer is that this magnet -- with its incredible ability to generate a massive magnetic field -- will be able to test the properties of new semiconducting materials like iron-oxyaresenide, which can improve the method by which current clinical MRI machines are built, lowering costs and improving efficiency. At about $3 million, MRI machines aren't typically deployed in developing countries' clinics. Lowering costs associated with the machine could potentially bring the developing world up to speed in terms of medical diagnoses.
#2 What are you passionate about?
What am I passionate about? When I consider this question, I immediately think about what passion is. I guess I figure its meaning to refer to an activity that doesn't seem to be a trial or a labor. I contrast it with activities that are tiresome and boring.
One of my main passions is music. Whether it's listening to music or making it on the drums, music is one of the things that keep me sane.
Another one of my passions is math, particularly calculus. I guess I just like the order in the madness of it all. In recent years, I've taken up private tutoring as a means to earn some extra income. I've mainly worked with family friends that are in AP Calculus at the high school level. If I can toot my own horn, I think I'm very good at relating this very 'esoteric' material. I love it when the students I work with finally understand something. I could always see it in their eyes when something finally clicked. I think, if after some time that I've been successful in my career as an engineer, I'd like to teach math either at the college or high school level.
One of my main passions is music. Whether it's listening to music or making it on the drums, music is one of the things that keep me sane.
Another one of my passions is math, particularly calculus. I guess I just like the order in the madness of it all. In recent years, I've taken up private tutoring as a means to earn some extra income. I've mainly worked with family friends that are in AP Calculus at the high school level. If I can toot my own horn, I think I'm very good at relating this very 'esoteric' material. I love it when the students I work with finally understand something. I could always see it in their eyes when something finally clicked. I think, if after some time that I've been successful in my career as an engineer, I'd like to teach math either at the college or high school level.
#1 Recent Dream
Dreams are a funny thing. Some say what you experience in the dreamworld is just your subconscious coming to the forefront of your thought, like it's a film of things you would do if you had no inhibition. Yet, when you try and do something of great emotional importance, like, say, punching someone square in the face, it's like a great and terrible effort. Has this happened to anybody else?
The dreams I remember the best are the ones in which I'm in conflict with someone or something. The last dream I can recall took place in Florence, Italy, or some place that either resembled Florence or was a place that I perceived to be Florence. I went there (in real life) a couple years ago, along with my brother, to visit our sister who was teaching at an International School in Trieste. I remember there being a conflict about whether or not to purchase these expensive tickets to see a small orchestra play. I guess my subconscious wanted to revisit this episode.
Now that I think about this dream, the location didn't really resemble Florence, which is kind of strange and funny. I remember Florence well, so I don't know why it wouldn't appear like Florence in my dream. It's also funny how things happen in dreams… I remember being pulled or dragged somewhere to do something, presumably against my will.
The dreams I remember the best are the ones in which I'm in conflict with someone or something. The last dream I can recall took place in Florence, Italy, or some place that either resembled Florence or was a place that I perceived to be Florence. I went there (in real life) a couple years ago, along with my brother, to visit our sister who was teaching at an International School in Trieste. I remember there being a conflict about whether or not to purchase these expensive tickets to see a small orchestra play. I guess my subconscious wanted to revisit this episode.
Now that I think about this dream, the location didn't really resemble Florence, which is kind of strange and funny. I remember Florence well, so I don't know why it wouldn't appear like Florence in my dream. It's also funny how things happen in dreams… I remember being pulled or dragged somewhere to do something, presumably against my will.
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